Major Historical Turning Points in America's Current Society

The Progressive era was a massive turning point in America’s history. The suffrage movement, Scopes Monkey Trial, and prohibition all had a large impact on America. Each event had a unique effect on the future and we still see the effects of these events today.

Throughout documented United States history, immense changes in social, political, and economic establishments have been brought about by perplexing people or conditions. Often, these changes mark a turning point in the progress of civilization as new ideas are formed, new governments raised, or new discoveries put to use in the interest of progress. Whether these pivotal moments in history may be triggered due to a single nonconforming individual or a vast, radical multitude, each turning point has explicit influences and outcomes which shaped America for years to follow. Every important decision has two key dimensions. The first is the outcome in the immediate case, and the second is as

There are many events that occurred that became the foundation of present day America. The five most important historical events that occurred during American History were: the Renaissance; the European Reformation; the life of George Washington; concept of Manifest Destiny; and racism. These events each had a significant impact that formed the concepts that are used throughout America today; and, if they never happened or happened differently society would have been greatly affected.

The Cambodian Genocide was the result of imperialism, ethnic supremacy, ultra-nationalism, anti-colonialism, a power grab, and religion. It began with the Cambodian people struggling against French colonization and grew in inspiration from Vietnam (end genocide). The French believed that Cambodia was a gateway into China to expand their trade with Southeast Asia. The French occupied southern Vietnam and wanted to expand their territory. There were many civil wars and invasions in Cambodia fought between the Vietnamese and Thai, and it greatly affected Cambodia. While the French did help Cambodia become independent and grew their infrastructure, while exploiting Cambodian labor, they failed to educate Cambodian people and establish a solid and effective judiciary system (Cambodia tribunal). Thus began their feelings of anti-colonialism. During the Vietnam War, the U.S. used Cambodia as a base to regroup, but also bombed the country to kill suspected Viet Cong targets. This began their feelings of imperialism and ultra-nationalism. The Khmer Rouge began feeling great animosity towards the West for their influenced corruption to Cambodian land and its people. Between January and August of 1973, 300,000 Cambodians were killed by American bombers that had joined forces with Lon Nol, head of the Khmer Republic.

The American Revolution was a major turning point in American history and greatly affected America's future. The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, to become the United States of America. It fundamentally changed the American society politically, socially and economically by the establishments of the Declaration of Independence and conflicts over stronger states rights or stronger central government, paper currency, women's rights and slavery.

The events of the 1930’s, or the Great Depression, did the most to influence contemporary America. During the twenties, America was at its most prosperous economic times until the stock market crashed in 1929. The stock market crash led to a dramatic decline of the U.S. economy. The decline in the economy changed Americans everyday lives. In 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected president and he created the New Deal to provide relief, recovery and reform. The Depression impacted America in the 1930’s in every aspect of life and still impacts America today. Although contemporary America was shaped by many events that occurred in the 20th century, America was most influenced by the 1930’s because of legislation that improved daily life

From 1940 to 1980 there were many significant events that shaped America. Events in history are not defined by how they actually happened but how they were interpreted. Be it by the people of that land or other lands looking in. In what ways do people receive the important news? News comes through media outlets such as radio, newspaper and television. Americans especially tend to take things at face value. “This information must be true, I read it in a newspaper.” In 1941 Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and in the coming weeks thanks to newspaper, men and underage boys were lined up in a fury ready to serve their country and the United States declares war on Japan. In the same year Hitler declares war on the United States. The United States drops the Atomic bomb and Japan surrenders.

The shootings that occurred at Kent State University, Ohio, on May 4, 1970 have been a dark spot in American history for almost 36 years. It is a day remembered by many names, THE KENT STATE SHOOTINGS, MAY 4 or the KENT STATE MASSACRE. Four students were killed and nine were wounded, all of America suffered.

The shooting of Kent State University on May 4, 1970 marked a point in the war that divided the nation and brought attention to the war on a scale never seen before. Fighting on the battleground was brought to America’s soil through the power of television and as the battle continued, emotions on the homefront intensified. The executive decision of President Richard Nixon initiated the protests and swung the opinion of the use of military force in Vietnam by his “April 30 announcement that he had sent American forces into Cambodia” (Reichard). President Nixon’s decision of sending forces into Cambodia sparked the protests on many campuses, one of them being Kent State, leading to the shooting and killing of four students, however only two of the students shot and killed were involved in the protests. “The killing… was another important turning point for many GI and veteran activists” (Moser 108).

People who were over the age of 30+ were for the war. On May 4th 1970 Richard Nixon gave a speech explaining on how he was going to send more troops in to Vietnam to help the war effort, so this caused riot and chaos in Kent State University, 4 students were gunned down by State troops and 9 students

The Kent State shootings was a tragic event that had a profound effect on the outcome of the Vietnam War and Richard Nixon's presidency. This tragic indecent provoked enormous display in campus protests. A national student strike shut down over 500 colleges and universities. The protests were overwhelmingly peaceful, though violent demonstrations, including the burning of Reserve Officer's Training Crops (ROTC) buildings, erupted on many campuses. Wells, 119.

The central idea of idea that America has changed over time is developed in Was Hard Fight To Get Vote and The Roaring Twenties different ways. In Was Hard Fight To Get Vote it shows how America has changed by showing how women slowly gained rights over time. Consequently, in The Roaring Twenties it shows that America had a great 10 years then the worst years of American history. American has changed significantly throughout time. One way being, according to Was Hard Fight To Get Vote, was that women gained suffrage.

Slavery was a major turning point of American history, and is a greatly debated topic. In the Civil War it is seen as the cause or whether it was just a part of it. The Civil War’s act with slavery was just another issue not the cause. The act of slavery in south was the cause of the great civil war , however due to it was a planned much later on to emancipate slavery as a military tactic by Abraham Lincoln, Horace Greeley urged President Lincoln in 1862 to transform the war into an abolitionist crusade , and Lincoln would have supported slavery if the southern states had ended their secession. Showing the effort put into fighting for African American freedom.

This essay will examine the rise of “modern America”, there were economic, religious, and aspect of life changes took place and it was greatly changed the Americans society’s perceptions, specifically, the north and the south. The rise of “modern America” was greatly motivated immigrants to come to the United States for economic opportunity, industrialization in the North after the civil war created new businesses and job regulations, and the demand for social changes; all of these factors shaped America socially, politically, and economically.

On April 19, 1775, Americans will never forget when many deaths and historical events occurred allowing the colonist to receive their victoriorous justice. Colonists were frustrated because Britain forced them not to have any representation in the British Parliament. This led to an American battle which had 4,435 deaths involving this event. Although, we lost many lives during this time period, we gained justice and independence from Great Britain, with the help of one of Americas strongests allie; the French. In fact, without assistance, the Americans were no match for Britains; showing the hatred towards the British from the French and Americans, thus, making it easy for them to form an alliance. In 1778, representatives of both America